Palm Springs native Matt McJunkins’ music career has thus far been pretty incredible: He’s been a member of bands including Eagles of Death Metal, Puscifer, Ashes Divide and Thirty Seconds to Mars, and is currently a member of A Perfect Circle, which will be performing at Coachella on Sunday, April 15 and 22. McJunkins was kind enough to answer the Lucky 13; here are his answers.
What was the first concert you attended?
The Doobie Brothers/Foreigner/Gary Hoey at the Twentynine Palms Marine base! It was also the first time I smelled the unmistakable odor of the whacky tobacky. There’s a bit of irony in there somewhere.
What was the first album you owned?
Skid Row. The first album. On cassette. Knew every song and every word. Still do (pretty much) to this day.
What bands are you listening to right now?
I’m all over the place on this one. Right now, it’s mostly a lot of Nick Lowe, Phil Spector stuff, The Jam, and the Boogie Nights soundtrack.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
I can’t say that I “don’t get it,” but I would say dubstep generally didn’t bend my ear all that much.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
TV on the Radio! It’s a band I’ve really fallen in love with the last few years but haven’t had the opportunity to see live.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
Men Without Hats’ “The Safety Dance.”
What’s your favorite music venue?
That’s a tough one. Recently, I was floored by the beauty and design of the Fox Theatre in Detroit. Old theaters like that, that really have a unique design and some history to them, are always appealing to me.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
“It’s a God-awful small affair to the girl with the mousy hair,” David Bowie, “Life on Mars.”
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Def Leppard was my first favorite band, and Hysteria was the first album that I really sunk my teeth into. I think I’ve been stuck on music since then. And that record still holds up wonderfully to this day.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
Well, unfortunately, he is no longer with us. But I’d ask David Bowie, “Would you write and record a song with me?”
What song would you like played at your funeral?
Men Without Hats’ “The Safety Dance.”
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Well, the kid in me would say Def Leppard’s Hysteria. But now at this moment, I would have to pick David Bowie’s Hunky Dory.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Chips Down” by Cody Chesnutt. Instant contemplative/good mood every time I hear it. I love songs like that, with multiple layers to it which require more than one listen to really get the whole picture. A beautiful song, really. (Scroll down to hear it.)